Rams Overcome Slow Start to Defeat NYU-Poly

Farmingdale State - 88, NYU-Poly - 80

Brooklyn, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State women's basketball team defeated Skyline Conference opponent NYU-Poly, 88-80, improving to 19-0 overall and 13-0 in the conference. The Fighting Blue Jays fell to 10-11, 6-9 in Skyline play after Tuesday's loss.

Farmingdale State struggled offensively in the first half shooting 23 percent from the field compared to 55 percent shooting for NYU-Poly. The Rams trailed 41-25 at halftime.

Trailing 52-33 with 12:28 remaining, Farmingdale went on an 18-3 run over the next 3:28 highlighted by three Jeanette Zubizarreta (Bay Shore, N.Y./Calhoun) three-pointers, cut the deficit to 55-51. The Rams tied the game at 65-65 on a jump shot by senior guard Kamaya Miller (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) with 4:49 to play. The Fighting Blue Jays led 75-70, until senior guard Kimberly Blakney (Brooklyn, N.Y./Benjamin Banneker) scored the games next 10 points, opening up a five point lead for Farmingdale State with under two minutes remaining. The Rams would hold on and defeat NYU-Poly for their 19th win of the season.

Farmingdale State was led by Blakney who scored a game-high 30 points, had 14 rebounds and six steals. Zubizarreta shot 6-for-8 from three-point range for a career-best 21 points, while senior guard Juanita Chappel (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grand Street Campus) scored 18 points and grabbed seven boards.

Sophomore guard Kristin Leitheuser (Millbrook, N.Y./Arlington) led the Fighting Blue Jays with 27 points and 17 rebounds. Sophomore forward Margaux Pickell (Howell, N.J./Howell) had 18 points and 11 boards, while sophomore guard Megan Bosi (New Milford, N.J./Bergen County Academy) pitched in scoring 14.

Farmingdale State will host Skyline opponent Old Westbury tonight at 6:00 p.m. The Farmingdale State basketball teams will be participating in this years' Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone initiative in honor of breast cancer awareness and to raise money for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

*****